Panaji
It
was a small fishing village with lots of coconut trees, creeks and fields. For
centuries it remained so and was a neglected ward of Taleigao village with the
only massive structure, the Adil Shah Fort by the Mandovi river. In 1632 the
then Viceroy, Count de Linhares, Dom Miguel de Noronha built the 3.2km causeway
linking Panjim with Ribandar village.
It exists even today and is known as the "Pointe de Linhares" and
at the time it was constructed, was the longest bridge in existence. Around
this time, against the backdrop of the decline of Old Goa, the idea of Panjim
becoming the Capital of Goa slowly gained momentum.
On December 1 1759, the then Viceroy, Dom Manuel de Saldanha de Albuquerque,
Count of Ega, shifted his residence from Panelim (near Old Goa) to Panjim. He
moved to the newly re-modeled Adil Shah Fort, since known as "Idalcao's
Palace" . The "Father of Panjim" is a title that is said to belong
to the Viceroy, Dom Manuel de Castro de Portugal ( 1826-1835 ).
He began the process of slowly reclaiming land, initiated public projects, drainage
systems and was also responsible for many of its government buildings and set
the stage for Panjim to evolve into a magnificent city. By a royal decree on
March 22, 1843 its status was elevated to a "City" and became the
capital of Goa and was called "Nova Goa". The city was electrified
in 1931. Over time it has undergone many changes under different administrations.
There are two old sections of the city existing today, one called "Fontainhas"
and the other "Sao Tome". The hillock overlooking the city is called
"Altinho".
Today, It is not only the state capital, but also an educational, commercial
and cultural center of Goa. The Goa Medical College used to be situated here
(since moved to Bambolim ) and so does the Goa College of Pharmacy, the Goa
College of Art, and the Government Polytechnic. The Dhempe College of Arts and
Sciences is situated in nearby Miramar. Some of the important parts of the city
are discussed separately in the links below. It boasts of a cultural center-The
Kala Academy, and a number of theater complexes.
The main transportation hub is across the "Pato bridge" over the Rua
de Ourem creek at the Kadamba Bus Station . From this Bus station buses take
off regularly to other Goan cities like Margao, Vasco da Gama, Mapusa , Ponda
and other towns in Goa and to neighboring states. The nearest train station
is Karmali, near Old Goa.
Typical of a Goan town, Panaji is built around a church facing a prominent square.
The town has some beautiful Portuguese Baroque style buildings and enchanting
old villas. The riverside, speckled with brightly whitewashed houses with wrought
iron balconies, offers a fine view.
There are some fine government buildings along the riverside boulevard, and
the Passport Office is especially noteworthy. In the 16th century, the edifice
was the palace of Adil Shah (the Sultan of Bijapur). The Portuguese took over
the palace and constructed the Viceregal Lodge in 1615. In 1843, the structure
became the Secretariat, and today it is the Passport Office.
Trudge around town in the cobbled alleys to see quaint old taverns and cafés
with some atmosphere, and practically no tourists. They are a good place to
meet the local people.
The Church Square is a fine illustration of the awesome Portuguese Baroque style.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception is easily one of the most elegant and
picturesque monuments in Goa. Built in 1541 AD, atop a high, symmetrical, crisscrossing
stairway, the church is a white edifice topped with a huge bell that stands
in between two delicate Baroque style towers.
The Braganza Institute, houses the tiled frieze, which depicts the 'mythical'
representation of the colonisation of Goa by the Portuguese. Fountainhas is
a lovely old residential area amidst shady cobbled streets connecting red-tile-roofed
houses with overhanging balconies, much like a country town in Spain or Portugal.
West of Fontainhas, the picturesque Portuguese quarter, the commercial centre's
grid of long straight streets fans out west from Panjim's principal landmark,
Church Square. Further north, the main thoroughfare, Avenida Dom Joao Castro,
sweeps past the Head Post Office and Secretariat Building, before bending west
along the waterfront.
